Allen Stone: The Man We Remember As We Compete

Allen Stone was born and raised in the Ocean View section of Norfolk, Virginia. He was active in youth athletics from an early age, participating in the Naval Air Station Little League organization and the Northside Community Athletic Association.

As an eighth-grader at Northside Middle School, he played JV football at Granby High School. During his regular high school career at Granby from 1984–1988, Allen earned 11 varsity letters for his achievements in football, baseball and swimming, and served as team captain several times in each sport. In addition to athletics, Allen contributed his time and energy to a variety of school clubs and community organizations.

Allen attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on a baseball scholarship, winning the starting shortstop position in his freshman year. During his final year at VMI, he served as the team’s student assistant baseball coach.

In January 1992, Allen enlisted in the Navy and was selected as the best athlete in his basic training class in Orlando, Florida. Setting his naval career sights high, Allen committed himself to becoming a Navy SEAL and began BUDS training as a member of Class 200 in Fall 1992. He excelled in the most rigorous military training in the world and earned his Trident pin in 1993.

From 1993 to 1997, Allen served as a communications specialist with SEAL Team Three in Coronado, California. He was transferred to the East Coast and SEAL Team Two in 1997. While serving as a Navy SEAL, Allen operated in numerous countries and regions including the Persian Gulf, Middle East, Africa, Kosovo, Europe, the Mediterranean, and Central and South America.

In Spring 1999, Allen was selected to serve in an elite Navy SEAL training cell. He died in a training accident September 3, 1999. Allen’s ashes were scattered at sea off the coast of Hatteras, North Carolina, from a Zodiac boat by a team of Navy SEALs and members of Britain’s SAS force. A small memorial stone in North Carolina is inscribed with one of Allen’s favorite sayings, “When the pavement ends, the fun begins.”